"Not much, I'm afraid. We only had the one conversation." He shrugs. "From the sound of it, though, she's still on the planet, or at least she was when we talked."
"My kind do not think like yours. I have no 'feelings' on the thing in control here, other than curiosity. When we have made contact, and I gain a better understanding of it, that is when I will develop an emotional response to it." The scientist shrugs. "Alive? Yes, at least clinically. Like the few other humans I was able to secure, this body was still functional when I discovered it, but utterly unresponsive, in some sort of induced coma, an effect likely caused by whatever trapped you here. After failing to revive this form, I took control of it, lest it wither away from starvation."
Elena smiled. "That's great news." She nodded. "And what exactly did she want?" She asked as she scanned the man's thoughts. All the alcohol probably made him easier to read.
"It would be my honor and pleasure to accompany you Your Majesty." Yannika said with a teasing smile as she finished with his hair before she turned serious. "It sounds as though Lady Elena's had many successes recently. That's good for you and the Empire, she's shored up support for you both politically and militarily." "It's unexpected from a priestess," she mused "I wouldn't have thought her to be so capable in those fields; but what's the old saying? 'Don't look a gift Wyvern in the mouth'. Perhaps an expression of gratitude is in order. Display your favor and motivate others to follow her example?" She took a moment to admire her son before she changed topics. "And I have a rendezvous with my father today..." she let out a breath and her face fell somewhat. "All for a good cause though." She stepped forward and kissed him. "I miss you every moment we're apart. But we both have our responsibilities."
Spoiler: Telepathy Roll D100: 87 Surprisingly, the prince is still mostly sober, but Elena is able to probe his thoughts nonetheless. She quickly discovers a fact he didn't mention: The location Confessor Ingrid gave him for a meeting. She also reads feelings of attraction for her, suggesting that he was probably going to try and offer the location to her, in exchange for sex. Of course, now she has the location, so his leverage is gone. "She was hoping to get me to try and use my relatives to attack the Terran Empire." He explains. "During the attack, when the military headed out to fight the invaders and the capital was in chaos, is when she'd strike."
"Good idea. I owe her, too, for getting solid proof on Ingrid." He frowns at the mention of the woman he once trusted, before shaking his head. "I'm sorry to make you face him. I'd rather have him dragged before me and executed on the spot, but his evidence could cause a civil war or worse." He touches her face. "Soon we'll have time to ourselves. Every emperor is allowed some time off when he marries, to help expedite the conception of an heir." He grins.
"I see. We might be able to bring them back. But for now, we'll need to take care of whatever it is controlling the surrounding." Vizelle nodded, "Do you happen to have any idea where it might be?"
"My own hypothesis was that it, if it's corporeal in nature, would be located in one of the cities. Most likely, the largest one." Vizelle notes that the creature's hypothesis is the same as Jaya's.
"The unease is a transitory thing my love. And so long as it achieves our goal it is no issue to worry about. And when he discovers the truth about us, that will be revenge in and of itself." Yannika kissed the hand against her cheek lovingly, "Who knows, time off for that might not be necessary." she said with a twinkle in her eye. "But I will definitely make sure we use of every last second of it." she returned his grin.
He chuckles, and kisses her forehead. "As will I, my love." He gives her ass a smack. "Now, time to get to work." He exits the room.
"I've still been trying to ascertain the utility behind these." She points to the fleshy beings in the tanks. "They're mostly human derived, but I've detected splices of the genetic code of different species. I still haven't ascertained the motive behind this. The goal of my control is to acquire labor to do the things that I cannot. The reasoning behind these creations, I cannot quite say. Besides that, there's little of interest. Some audio logs from the science team, but they appear to have had no more information than we do."
She let out a surprised yelp when his hand made contact with her bare ass but she only smiled as a result. Once he'd left, she did so as well. Returning to her chambers through the hidden passageway. In her room, she took time to make herself 'presentable' and then departed for her meeting with House Wulfkin.
"Oh? You're saying they were trying to splice human, and another species DNA's together?" Vizelle raised an eyebrow, "Interesting." She hummed, So, the northern empire was already aiming to create hybrids, hmm. She thought to herself, before nodding. "Alright, if there isn't much in this place. We might as well deal with the master mind behind thise planet. Shall we return to the ship?" She grins.
An imperial escort flies her through the city, to the capital manse of House Wulfkin. Elevated on a hill over the rest of the city, the building seems more imposing than it did when she was a young woman. She's expected, and therefore House Wulfkin guards let her enter without much fuss, escorting her through the building. Seeing the interior, she's filled with memories of her days as a young lady in court, returning through the large doors after a ball or soiree, heading to the her father's study, ready to be scolded for whatever faux pas she'd committed that night. She's taken to the study, finding it mostly unchanged, and after a few minutes, the door opens. The man who steps through the threshold is older, more wizened, but still unmistakably her father. The old man double takes, as he sees her. "You..." His eyes narrow.
"Yes." She nods. "Either the human researchers, or the entity which took over their bodies. Possibly both." The scientist shrugs. "Yes, your ship. Lead the way."
"Hmm. We will find out once we get to the bottom of this." Vizelle nods, "Alright everyone, let's head back to the ship. Ah, but first. You don't happen to know how to open the northen areas door, would you?"
Anger, pain, embarrassment, and grief are just some of the emotions that flood through her as she stands before the man who is her father. There were so many things she wanted to do now, standing in this home, but she did none of them. Instead, she focused on why she was there. She curtsied, and showed the proper deference due a man of his stature. "My Lord Wulfkin, thank you for meeting me and welcoming me into your home; you're looking well. I stand before you a Lady of the Emperor's council, and I come here today to discuss a personal matter."
"I'm afraid not." She shakes her head. "Only the project director had the access card, and I haven't found their body among the fallen."
Lord Wulkin stands silently for several moments, before striding to his desk. "The boy wants to discuss a personal matter with me? Or is it you, who wants to talk with me?" He shrugs. "Out with it, then. The sooner we get this done, the sooner you can be on our way. I'm sure you have many men to spread your legs for, today."
